Closure flange-container wall combination



July 9, 1957 R. L. PARISH, JR., El AL 2,798,742

CLOSURE FLANGE-CONTAINER WALL COMBINATION Filed July 14, 1953 3 Shee'ts-Sheet l R/CHA RD L. PAR/s5; J INVENTORS. I

FRANK ZAMPELLA ATTORNEY.

y 1957 R. PARISH, JR., El AL ,7 4

CLOSURE FLANGE-CONTAINER WALL COMBINATION Filed July 14, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I R/u/A RD .4 PA R JGINVENTORS. v

K WK ZAMPELLA.

ATTORNEY y 1957. R.,.-L. PARISH, JR., El AL ,798, CLOSURE FLANGE-CONTAINER WALL COMBINATION Filed July 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Hill 31 44 R/cHA 0 L. PA /5H, J INVENTORS- d FRANJEYZAMPELLA WZQ/ ATTORNEK tILUSURE FLANGE-(IONTAINER WALL CfBMBlNATION Richard L Rarish, Jr., North Salem, N. Y., and Frank Zarnpella, Ridgeiield, N. J., assignors to American Flange d; Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 14, 1953, Serial No. 367,830

5 (Ilaims. (Cl. 235-45) This invention relates to closure flanges for container wall openings and to combinations of thesame with container walls and is particularly concerned with closure flange-container wall combinations where the container walls are formed from sheets coated exteriorly or interiorly or both.

Steel shipping containers, particularly in the category of steel barrels and drums, have developed over the years and have been made so that they are now a well recognized and most essential package for the shipment of a variety of commodities. They have found a wide market in the shipment of commodities which had no effect on or are not affected by the steel out of which they are made. So useful and eflective have they proven themselves that a demand has arisen for the fabrication of such containers with interior coatings to protect commodities against corrosion, contamination, etc., and the industry has found such coatings which can be effectively employed.

Since almost the inception of the light weight steel drum it has been the recognized practice to coat the exteriors thereof for protection of the steel and for the imparting of distinctive and attractive appearances thereto. For many years this has been done by the painting or lacquering of the drums after they were formed. The results are reasonably satisfactory but this method of coating calls for considerable work, equipment and floor space due to the necessity, among other things, of applying the lacquer to the finished drums, baking those drums in ovens and then, in addition, or alternatively, conveying the drums for considerable distance through the air to allow the lacquer to set. Efforts to similarly coat the interiors of assembled drums, particularly if they are not of the removable head type, involve so many additional factors that the results achieved hardly warrant the effort involved.

In recent years at least one manufacturer developed exterior coatings which could be applied to flat sheets prior to the fabrication of them into drums and which resisted matting and fracture from the steps involved and equipment employed in the forming of such sheets into drums. More recently, coatings, designed for the interior linings of drums, and the application of them to flat sheets, have been developed to Withstand the forming of the sheets into drums without marring or fracture. Certain of these coatings, like the exterior coatings just mentioned, not only adhere well to the metal but are also tough. Others, such as Saran, adhere well to the metal and are good coatings for preventing the contact of food products with the metal of the container, but are rather easily fractured. i

The application of closure flanges or bushings to open ings in such coated sheets and the forming of the sheets to receive them have involved troublesome problems. The perforating and embossing of such sheets, in manners heretofor practiced, and the action of securing existing closure flanges in such perforations could not be followed where the sheets were pre-coated either exteriorly or interiorly or both, without the likelihood of scutfing or fracnited States Patent ice 2 turing the coating. When the the drum is scuffed or broken, it is unsightly and the metal is likely to be exposed to corrosion. Thus the full effectiveness of the coating is lost and the quality of the product is reduced. When' the coating on the interior of the drum is badly scuffed or broken the drum becomes worthless as a coated container, for the contents, such as food products and chemicals, are likely to come in contact with the metal and be contaminated by it. Thus a great demand has arisen for closure flanges and applying methods which can be employed without introducing these causes of rejection of the drums as a marketable product.

Applicants have met this demand and solved the problem in a straightforward economical manner. They have done so while at the same time enabling the manufacture of closure parts and the application of them to container walls to be carried on without departing materially from pre-existing practices and without involving material changes in manufacturing or applying machinery, with which latter all the drum manufacturers throughout the world are equipped. Furthermore, the closure flanges of the invention enable the application thereto of closure plugs and capseals in manners comparable to those to which the workers in the art are accustomed.

It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to improve upon closure flanges for and the application of the same to container walls.

Another primary object is to provide such closure flanges for and the application of the same to coated. sheets to be employed in the forming of containers.

Another object is to provide such flanges for and the application of the same to sheets used in the forming of container walls without marring the coating on either the interior or exterior thereof.

Still another object is to provide such closure flanges: which will not contaminate the contents of lined shipping containers or be contaminated by such contents.

A further object is to provide such closure flangesformed for the reception of closure members which closure members will likewise avoid contamination of the contents of the container.

A still further object is to provide such closure flanges and the application of the same to container walls so formed and applied that the containers, of which they form part, will be useable for the shipment of non-com taminating commodities after the container has been considered to be no longer useable for the shipment of products subject to contamination.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation partly broken away and shown in section of a closure flange in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. l, of the retaining collar for use in conjunction with the flange of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a fragmentary portion of the flange base.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a section of container wall stock perforated and embossed to receive the flange of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a section thereof taken on lines 77 of Fig. 6.

'Fig. 8 is an assembly view, partly in elevation and partly coating on the outside of broken away and shownin section of the flange of Fig. l

Fig. 9 is a similar view .withthe additionof a plastic...

protecting ring around the base of the flange.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation partly broken away and shown insection of a complete plastic over -lay for the fla'rige'ofFig. 11 i Fig. 11 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 1-2 is, an elevation.partlybroken away and shown in section of theassernblyof flange, over-lay, drum-stock and, retaining ring, placed together ready for; application;

Fig. 16; is a view, similar to Fig. 15, showing- 'the',

threaded ne ck portion,of theover-lay removed, leaving a portion surrounding the ,b ase of the metal flange and'with a plug'r'eceived'in the metal flange anda capseal thereover.

The closure flange, as shown in Fig. 1, generally comprises a base 1.and,an upstanding neck,2. The base 1,

preferably circular in outline, has a series ofupstruck projections 3 formed out of the stock thereof. Theseprojections extend part way up the outer surface of-the neck.

2.as well as extending outwardly therefrom. Preferably these projections are formed by a stamping, or coining,

operation, with the resul tthat the .under surface ofthe base v1 is recessed as shown at;4. The, flange base l'extends outwardly from the projections 3 to a substantial.

extent as shown at 5.

The neck 2is interiorly threaded throughout a substantial portion of its height, as seenat and is reamed,

at 7 above those threads,. fora purposewhich will appear hereinafter. No particular number of projections 3 isconsidered as necessary, but for. a flange presenting an in: ternal diameter of a 2" pipe thread, as shown at 6, a round number of eight projections is suitable. Similarly, of.

course, the drumstockt as shownin Fig. 7,-is, perforated at 9 with an opening of a diameter to receivethe exterior surface of the neck 2. The opening 9 is also provided with the appropriate number of recesses inset at. 10 tosnugly receive the corresponding number of projections 3. in addition, the container wall stock Sis embossed, outwardly of the recesses 10, into an,upwardly extendingrib 11. The rib 11, as seen in Fig. 8, is positionedto sub stantially overlie the outer rim of -the flangebase 1.

The retaining collar, shown.in,Figs.. 3 and 4 has a top portion 12 of cylindricalform Whoseinterior diameter is substantially the same as the exterior diameter ofthe neck 2, and has a lower outwardly flared portion 13. The,

extent of the collar is such that the endedge-M of the portion 13 seats againstthe inner side of thetrib 11, ad-

jacent the base thereof, as seen in Fig. 8, when the retaina ing collar is assembled with the flange and the drum stock. The inner surface of the flared portion 13 carries a gasket 15. This gasket is formed of material preferably. applied in the fluid state, allowed to set and adhering to the metal of the collar.

It is, of course, to be appreciated that the flange of this invention may be eflectively employed for bordering the. openings in steel containers whose walls are devoidof.

both inner and outer coatings. Next they are useable for containers having pro-coated outer wall surfaces but .where such walls are devoid of any interior coating and where no.

problem of contamination of the contents of the container by the raw metal of the flange or of the container wall exists. The application of the flange to such unlined container is illustrated in Fig. 8. There it will be seen that the flange neck 2 has been inserted up through the open ing in the container wall with the projections 3 fitting up in the recesses such as 10. The collar member 12 overlies the neck 2 and has its end edge 14 engaged with the inner surface of the rib 11. The top portion ofthe flange base is secured up against the upper surface of the drum stock inward of therib 11- and is held up there against by the. curling or. beadingoutwardly of the portion-7ofthe flangeneck over" the upper endof'th'e collar 12, This, action, at the same time, serves to force the collar 12 tightly against the rib 11 so that the flange is clamped hard on to the drum stock. The gasket 15 will prevent any possible leakage between the wall 5 of the flange base and the undersurface of the drum stock. The flange is thus in a position to receive a closure plug therewithin and a. capseal thereover, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 16.

Positive prevention of the turning of the flange, with regardtothe drum stock; is provided. Any effort of the projections 3, to escape" from the recesses of the drum stock in which they seat is guarded against by the engagement of the end 14 of the collar with the drum stock closely adjacent: the base of the recesses 10 while the flange is held tightly againstthe drum stock by the interaction of it with the collar 12. The rib 13 assures that such interaction will be a tight one by precluding any tendency ofthe collar to spread outwardly with respect to thedrumatock; The only part of the drum stock whose exterior surface;coating-rnight be marred lies Within the collar12, 1 so ,cannot be, seen.

In someinstances-,the-makingof the flange out ofmaterials impervious ot the action of the contents of thecontainer provides atsolutionfor the closure problems of containers havingtinternal:liningsor coatings. illustrationsof this arewhere-the-flange is made of stainless steel or aluminum rathen thanordinary steel. Nevertheless prQVlSlOn 1muSt;be"made fQr preventing the container contents frornreaching, thegraw edges of the drum stock around the, Qpening Q-Iand forpreventing the fracturing of the.inner;.coat;ing inea-position where the contents of the container canget at the-metal beneath that coating.

Protectionagainst these possible causes oftrouble is here-providedt-by,theause of--.a ring of suitable plastic material;aroundethenbase .of the flange. This ring, shown at 16.;in Fig; 9,,isgenerally U-shaped in cross-section, haying a baseportion 17 and inwardly extending rims 18 and 19,;whioh overliethe top-andbottom surfaces of the flange forashort -.distance-- inward from the edge so that, initially, the :ring will; stay on.

When this flange,-isappliedto the container by a pressing and curling operation, the-same as that of Fig. 8,; the rinrlfi of thetcollarlotis secured uptightly-within therecesslt) beneath therib 11. Thus any likelihood of the, container contents coming in contact with the ordinary steel of the'drurn' stock, at. places such-as raw edges 9 and 10,15 -,pr ec1 u ded bythe-gasketing action of .the rib 19.

Furthermore it is to -,be.- noted the .inner coated surface 21 ofthe drum wallts is somewhatbelow the upper surface 5-of ..th e flangeskirt. This constrictsthe opening between thetedgeeof thetflange skirt and the recess 20 so that the rib 19 is precluded from squeezing out as the securing-pf the,fla. ge;-is effected. On the contrary, the tendency isfor the. material of'the rib 19 to be squeezed inwardly-. Fromthis showingit is apparent that if the container contents are such that they can be protected against,contaminationby they use of the proper material for the making of-the flanges, then this assembly will meet all the ,requi-rements'.

Where itisnecessary or desirable to isolate themetal of-the flange-from thecontents of the container, that can be .done bythe application of the over-lay, shown in Figs. 10 and .11, to the flange as shown in- Figs. '12 through 15. This over lay membenwould preferably: be made of some suitable: plastic material -of reasonable rigidity, yet of adequateflexibility to assure self gasketing, .while, at the same time, being as inert with respect to the contentsofthe Container as-would-the lining materialll for the containenwall; Polyethylene is a good illustration of a material vsuitable for this purpose.

The ov er-jlay member here'- illustrated, generally. indicated ,;at -.2 5 has a main neck portion: 26 whose outer surface; 27 is ,suchthatzjt will. tightly engage the screw threaded portionifi ofthe flangeneck and will flow around the peaks of the threads sufliciently to form a partial engagement therewith. The upper end of the overlay neck 26 is provided with an outwardly extending annular ledge portion 28 which lies against the normal gasket receiving surface provided at the upper end of the threads 6 and by the outward curling of the portion 7. This engagement, along with that of the partial engagement of the threads 6 and the portions 27, is suflicient to hold the overlay neck up within the flange neck while they are being applied to the container wall together and thereafter while the overlay is in use.

The interior of the neck 26 of the over-lay is formed with screw threads 29 throughout the major portion of its height and with a gasket receiving seat 30 at the upper end thereof, These formations effectively receive a closure plug in tight engagement therewith and for forming a leakproof joint therewith, such plug being illustrated in Fig. 15.

From the bottom end of the neck 26 the over-lay extends outwardly at 31, across the undersurface of the base of the flange, upwardly'at 32, past the periphery thereof and inwardly as a rib 33 similar to the rib 19 of Fig. 9. Obviously then, all surfaces of the metal flange capable of coming in contact with the contents of the container and contaminating the same are covered and protected by means of the over-lay.

When it is desired to secure a metal flange, as heretofore described, equipped with such an over-lay in place in a container wall opening, the first step is to apply the over-lay to the flange. This, assuming that the over-lay is made of sufficiently flexible material, can be achieved by flexing the portions of the over-lay suficiently to work the neck 26 up within the flange neck 2 and flexing the portions 32 and 33 outwardly sufliciently to work the flange base 1 thereinto. If needed the over-lay can be heated somewhat to soften it and make it easier to work.

Another way of proceeding would be to mold the overlay in place the flange, forming it with the threads and other active portions thereof while that is being done. By proceeding in this manner the over-lay would embrace the flange even more snugly, for the material of the overlay would flow fully into the threads of the metal flange rather than doing so only partially as is the case where the over-lay is applied in cold state.

Assuming the over-lay to be in position on the flange, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the flange is then seated in the drum stock perforation, with the collar 12 overlying its neck 2 and with the projections 3 registered with the recesses 10. Then, by suitable press action, the base of the flange, with its over-lay, is forced up under the drum stock so that the rib 33 seats up in the recess 29 and is forced tightly therewith. At the same time the reduced upper end 7 is tightly curled over the upper end 12 of the collar, to hold the whole assembly in tight engaged relation. This forces the collar 12 and 13 tightly down against the outer surface of the rib 11 at the position 14 and this, of course, incorporates the reverse action of holding or pulling the flange and its over-lay up against the undersurface of the drum stock surrounding the perforation therethrough.

The rib 33 is held up tightly within the recess 29 and is blocked from flowing out therefrom by the constriction of the opening between the upper edge of the flange base and the wall of the recess 24). Furthermore, the material of the rib 33 is tightly compressed within the recess 20, prevents any leakage past the same towards the raw metal of the drum stock edge and also performs the important function of serving as a cushion between the metal flange and the drum stock to prevent fracture of the coating or lining 21.

The tightness of the securing is indicated by the fact that the material of the portion 31 of the over-lay is forced up into the recesses 4 in the under surface of the flange base as illustrated at 34 in Fig. 14. This serves, along with the tight securing at the position of the rib 33 and other inter-engaging features of the flange and over-lay, to prevent the rotation of the over-lay with respect to the flange and thus with respect to the container wall. Hence fracture of the coating by the turning of the over-lay thereagainst is precluded. The flange being positively precluded from rotating with respect to the drum stock through the inter-action between the projections 3 and the recess 16, disruption of the lining by rotation of any parts secured thereagainst is definitely precluded.

The closing of the opening through the over-lay 25 is illustrated in Fig. 15. Here a closure plug 35 is threaded at 36 into the threaded portion 29 of the overlay neck 26. This closure plug may be of the same material as the over-lay or may be diflerent therefrom, so long as it is sufliciently resistant to the action of the contents of the container. This plug, preferably being of a somewhat resilient plastic material, is formed into a suitable gasketing portion 37 at the upper end of its threads 36, which gasketing portion is engaged with the gasket seat of the over-lay. Above that the plug is provided with an outwardly extending shoulder 33 terminating in a reduced lip 39 which partly overlies the beaded over portion 7. Suitable wrench engaging means are formed in the top of the plug extending downwardly into the body thereof, so that it can be turned up tightly with its gasket portion 37 engaging the gasket seat 30. When this is properly done a tight lcakproof joint will result and the closure will be fully effective.

As an additional safeguard against the possibility of leakage, this closure will preferably be provided with a capseal 46. This cap has a generally disc-like top,

once it is properly engaged.

bordered by a downwardly recessed portion il, part of which engages the lip 39 and forces it against the portion 7, the other part of which carries its own gasket $2. The gasket 42 is preferably flowed in place within the capseal and fills the space above the bead 7 under the recess 41. The capseal 4i) is secured in place by the downward drawing and inward crimping of its skirt portion 43 against the collar portion 12 beneath the bead 7. Such a capseal is provided with suitable score lines for the intended destruction of it but is proof against undetected tampering prior to such destruction. it is also leakproof. Thus a closure of additional high effectiveness results when such a capseal is used in conjunction with the plug When the lining on the inner surface of the drum stock 8 has become worn out, or fractured, or for other reasons it is decided that the interior coating aspect of the container is no longer desired, the overlay be readily removed, facilitating the use of the drum for commodities not contaminated by the metal of the flange. Thus a larger flange opening is available for closing in conventional manner, as illustrated in Fig. 16. Here the por tion 31 of the over-lay has been cut through at id and the neck portion 26 of the over-lay has been removed. Since, however, the portions 32 and 33 of the over-lay still remain, the tightness of the flange is in no way affected.

The plug for closing the opening in this flange consists of a threaded body 45 having a gasket seat 45 carrying a suitable gasket 47 which is secured in leak-tight engagement against the inner portion of the reduced end i as indicated at 48. The plug head 49 also engages that surface at 5%, so that the gasket 47 is confined by metal Again a suitable capseal Si may, if desired, be secured over the plug. The top of this capseal has a reduced periphery 52 against which a gasket 53 is flowed in for engagement with the upper portion 7 when the capseal is applied. This capseal is also secured in place by the downward and inward drawing of the skirt 54 against the portion 12 of the collar.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and particularly described herein, it is to be under stood that such showing is for illustrative and not limiting purposes as changes may readily be made without demeans construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts, all of which have been exemplified in the foregoing and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

Having described our invention, What we claim is new and desire to obtain Letters Patent for is:

1. In container construction, a container wall formed with an opening therethrough, a plurality of recesses and with said neck extending through said opening formed in the stock of said container Wall and extending outwardly from said opening, an upstanding rib formed in said container wall stock around said opening, said rib having an inner downwardly inclined face and said rib being spaced outwardly with respect to the bases of said recesses, a closure flange including a neck for extending through said opening, a plurality of projections for engaging said recesses and a base portion for underlying said Wall adjacent said opening, said flange being assembled with said container wall with said projections engaging said recesses and a collar member overlying a portion of said flange neck extending through said opening, said collar member extending between the inner downwardly inclined face of said rib and the upper portion of said flange neck for securing said closure flange in place in said opening, the lower portion of said collar member being flared outwardly and a gasket member secured to the inner surface of the outwardly flared portion of said collar member.

2. In container construction in combination, a container wall formed With an opening therein, a closure flange received in said opening, said closure flange including a base engaged with said container wall on one side of said opening and a neck extending upwardly through said opening beyond the opposite side thereof, said neck and the border of said opening being in engagement and being formed with mated projection and recess portions to prevent rotation of said flange with respect to said container wall, said container wall being formed with an annular upstanding rib surrounding said opening and spaced outwardly from the border thereof, and providing a downwardly sloping surface inclined toward said collar and said flange neck being interengaged' to-hold said neck up in said opening and said collar downwardly against said inner surface of said rib, and a gasket secured to the inner surface of the'outwardly flared portion of said collar, said gasket, in the securing of said collar in place about said flange neck, being compressed against the outer surface of said container wallstock and'into the corner between the outer surface of said container wall stock and said flange neck about said opening.

3. in container construction, a container wall formed of rigid metallic material, said container wall being formed with an opening therethrough, and being upwardly off-set around said opening outwardly spaced therefrom to form an annular groove in the underside of said Wall and an upstanding rib on the upper side thereof, said rib providing a downwardly and inwardly inclined surface, a metallic closure flange formed with a base portion and an upstanding neck portion, said closure flange assembled with said container wall with said base portion underlying said wall about said opening and overlyinga major portion of said groove, said neck portion extending upwardly through said opening, a gasket seated in said groove and trapped therein by said base portion and a collar overlying said neck on theouter side'of said container Wall, said collar being engaged at its upper end with said neck andbeing flared outwardly adjacent its lower end with the free end of said flared portion engaging said downwardly and inwardly sloping inner surface of said rib to keep said closure flange assembled with said container wall and said gasket compressed in said groove.

4. Construction as in claim3 and including said gasket forming part of an annular member U-shaped in cross section, said U-shaped member overlying the periphery of the base portion of said closure flange.

5. Construction as in claim 4, wherein said U-shaped member has a collar portion extending up within said flange neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,690 Radabaugh Feb. 23, 1926 2,144,701 Campbell Jan. 24, 1939 2,152,919 Rheem Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2, 798,742 July 9 195'? Richard L.. Parish, Jra et ala It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 7, lines 17 and 18, strike out "and with said neck extending through said opening" and insert the same after "recesses" in line 29, same column 7.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of June 1963o SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD ERNEST W. SWIDER Commissioner of Pat Attesting Officer 

